DIE, MY LOVE

*CONTAINS SPOILERS* This intense drama is set in rural America, in an area that has an ‘American Gothic’ feel. It follows the journey of first-time mother Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) as she struggles with mental instability and paranoia. She’s frequently consumed by primal rage and mania, while her patient husband Jackson (Robert Pattinson) tries to keep their lives from unravelling. Director Lynne Ramsey’s visceral use of sound creates a sense of psychological chaos and offers a glimpse into Grace’s troubled mind. Elements of the plot are tedious and multiple jumps in time make things messy. Plus this movie broke the unspoken cinema rule – NEVER kill the dog! By the halfway mark I was wishing it would end with each passing scene. I haven’t wanted something to be over so badly since a 3+ hour Tori Amos concert back in 2007. This film is uncomfortable and drawn-out with a metaphorical finale that will go over some viewers heads. I did enjoy the score, particularly the inclusion of one hit wonder “Hey Mickey” by Toni Basil. It gets one point for highlighting postpartum depression (even if they did make Grace the villain at the same time), one for the incredible performances of the entire cast (including Sissy Spacek as Jackson’s mother and Nick Nolte as his father) and one for the only character with any redeeming qualities, Jackson himself.